5 Hacks All Chefs Need In The Kitchen

Whether you’re a professional, a student or just a part-time hobbyist, cooking is a great way to relieve stress and enjoy life. However, given the number of tasks involved in kitchen prep and the delicate timing of many of these, it’s easy for even the simplest recipe to become stressful. One possible solution? Hacks, little secret tips and tricks to keep in mind to make your time in the kitchen easier. Whether it’s advice on cutting vegetables or the best way to pour out spice, these hacks will remind you why you fell in love with cooking in the first place.

Out of butter?
Given that butter is among the more common of ingredients, running out can hamper almost any recipe. If you find yourself in this position, just get some heavy cream, salt and a jar. Shake the cream and the salt inside the jar for 10 to 15 minutes and you’ll have fresh, creamy butter. If necessary, add more salt and shake again to tweak the final taste.

Keeping fruit fresher, longer
Fresh fruit is a tasty and nutritious component of everything from salads to pies. However, the shelf life of many pieces of fruit is only a few days at most, and even then, browning can kick after a day or so. To preserve fruit like apples and pears, simply soak them in a bowl of water and a teaspoon of honey. This mixture will keep the fruit’s skin rich and healthy while preserving the inside as well. For larger fruit like bananas or mangoes, you can also try putting them in plastic wrap to help preserve each piece.

Remove corn safely
As tasty as corn might be, husking and removing it can be both timely and somewhat labor intensive. Want an easier solution to getting corn off the cob? Grab a Bundt pan. Place the earn of corn into the pan, making sure it doesn’t move around at all. Then, using the back of your knife, simply scrap off the kernels, using your hand to rotate the corn as necessary. The kernels should fall directly into the pan, which also helps save time on any added clean up.

Rule of thumb
Depending upon the recipe, you may need to cut 1 inch slices or layer ingredients half an inch apart. Thankfully, there’s a way to measure accurately without having to bust out a ruler each time. Instead, use your thumb: In most people, the space between your thumb’s knuckle and its tip is usually an inch. If your thumb’s the wrong size, then use your pointer finger instead. The space from the tip to the second joint is almost always an inch.

Soften up butter
Butter that hasn’t had time to thaw from the fridge is much more difficult to work with and doesn’t always mix in properly. If you’re short on time, all you need is a warm drinking glass. Warm up the cup for a few seconds in the microwave and then place it over the log of butter. After a few minutes, you’ll have butter that is extra soft and creamy.